"May Your Spirits Soar"
Remarks of Mr. Scott Boydstun, Architect,
at the Dedication of
St. Thomas Hall
(Fall 2007 Newsletter)
 A
famous architect once said, "Good buildings are products of
very good clients." That surely is the case here. Architecture
is a collaborative process: it takes many dedicated people to take
an idea from pen and paper to bricks and mortar. So, I would like
to extend my gratitude to all the people who made this project happen.
This building was designed to house the many different functions
of the College's faculty and staff. But that is not really what
this design is all about. The design starts when you drive under
the old stone Ferndale Ranch gate. You pass up a narrow drive through
the lush, garden woodland under a thick canopy of trees. To the
left you catch a glimpse of the Hacienda designed by Wallace Neff.
You continue up a small hill where water trickles out of the small
hillside. As you come out of the trees, the grandeur of the chapel
comes into view. You have arrived at a very special place.
Turning left, you park in the shade of a former grove of trees.
Exiting the car, you find and follow a stone path leading to a heavy
wood door flanked by statues. At this, point there is a slight hesitation,
but on opening the door, the hesitation is gone.
A grand lobby and stair draws you in, welcoming you to Thomas Aquinas
College. Beyond the lobby, light spills through an arched opening
above a statue of St. Thomas Aquinas. Anticipation now pulls you
up the curved stair through a low vaulted passage where, at the
top of the stair, you discover a rotunda. This is the soul of the
building. You have reached its center.
It is from here that the building derives is sense of place and
spirit. You see, to me architecture is more than a building meeting
its functional obligations. Architecture is about ennobling a place
and the people who use it. Architecture, while being practical and
responsible, is still a product of the heart. My hope is that this
building will cause your spirits to soar and enthrall all who enter
and work here. Thank you and enjoy.
-- Qtrly Newsletter, Fall 2007
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